Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-21
KEEPERS OF THE zoo.
An Interesting Talk with One of
Them.
Alone with tho Animals ut Nlght-No
Tame Lions or JaGuars-Ferociousne
OF Those Born In Captivity-FOOl-
hardness Of Visitors.


: OF Those Born In Captivity-FOol-
hardness of Visitors.
The "Zoo'' is not an animal. 1t is
the name popularity given to the Zoo
logical Gardens, London, and. cur
tailed as it is, everybody understands
It, and saves breath by the convenient
abbreviation.
Very interesting these Geological
Gardens are. and the visitor to the
great metropolis as surely takes them
in with his sightseeing as he takes the
Tower. Westminster Abbey and
Madame Tussaud's. They cover acres
and acres of ground in Regents Park.
and nowhere else, except, perhaps. in
Paris, can you see such a splendid col
lection of wild animals.
The keepers are not less interesting
than the animals themselves, but while
any one who has q shilling to spend
may see the animals, it is only by spe-
cial favor that you can chat with the
Keepers, and learn from them their ex-
periences with the visitors and the
specimens.
We were objects of the special favor
of which we have spoken. and through
the kindness of Mr.. Sclater, the secre-
tary, and Mr.. Bartlett, the superinten-
dent. we were introduced to one keep
er who has been employed in the gar
dens for more than thirty years. He
was quiet, modest sort of fellow, not
at all eager to talk, but we persuaded
him to let us into some of his secrets,
as we wandered with him from cage to
cage; now where a panther was crouch
ing in the fork of a tree erected in its
den; then by the bear-pits, where
hairy black fellow stood on his launch
disproportionate bits Of cake which
visitors were flinging to him; now UNI
der the craning necks of the giraffes;
and then where the hOarse sea-lions
and soft-eyed seals were splashing in
their tanks.
I'VE begin in this way. SIR" he said,
IN answer TO our question. ''When a
man comes in young. as I did
wasn't more than eighteenth is put
to work with one of the older keepers
until he gets to be familiar with the
animals. We have to keep sharp
eye on these young fellows. sir, for
they are not as careful as they should
be, and can easily do Il lot of mischief,
either by over-feeding, or under-feed-
ing, or failing to report when an ami
NAL is out of order. But when the be-
ginner shows that he is made of the
proper stuff, he is put in charge of
certain group of animals-may be the
llamas, or may be the pelicans, or
may be the kangaroos, or the beavers,
or the ennis. He is still watched by
the older hands. but if he behaves HIM
self more confidence is placed in him.
and he is left to himself
This is the usual way, but it was
different with me. 1 dropped into the
job of night Waterman rs soon as l enc
tered the service of the garden"
Not pleasant position" said We,
and pictured him patrolling the wind
ing paths when all the crowd had de-
parted. and night had fallen. and he
was alone in the dark with more
savage creatures than could be found
in a years journey through the in
terror of Africa. The iron bars, it
seemed to us, could no. have been
altogether reassuring as he witnessed
the dusky forms moving behind them.
and saw, perhaps. the glow of some
ferocious monsters eye.
..How did you like it?' we con-
tinued.
"Well. l must say that didn't like
it 1t wasn't so bad when they were
quiet, but when they set up bowling,
It was awful.
OF course he said BOWLING" and
sshswful," and if the reader wishes to
pnssess himself of the keepers manner
ofspeaking, he must scrupulously put
his wherever they ought not to be, and
discard them wherever they have 4
rightful place.
..Yes; and no sooner did one begin"
he continued, ethan the whole lot
would follow. Not that any thing ever
happened, though one night did meet
a bear that had broken loose; but,
you see, the gardens are lonely. being
nearly surrounded by the park. and l
couldn't quite relish it"
'But when you have been with
them many years, you grow familiar
with the ANIMALS, and they learn to
know you and recognize you. don't
they?" we inquired.
Hhey pay learn 70 recognize Us